Loose-sheet binder.



No. 673,004. Patented Apr. 30, won.

' J. a. mvma.

LOOSE SHEET BI NDER.

(Application filed Sept 4, 1900.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JUNIUS B. IRVING, OF KANSAS OITY,'MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOSEPH D. HAVENS, OF SAME PLACE.

LOOSE-SHEET BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,004, dated April 30, 1901.

Application filed September 4, 1900. serial No. 28,913. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J UNIUS B. IRVING, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Loose-Sheet Binders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings, forming a partthereof.

My invention relates to improvements in loose-sheet binders. It is designed particularly as an improvement upon the invention described in an application filed by me April 9, 1900, Serial No. 12,067, for an improvement in loose-sheet binders.

The object of my invention is to provide detachable finger-holds that can be removed from the resilient strip which is mounted on the follower and engages the two posts on which the follower is movable.

In constructions of binders in which the finger-holds are not removable from the postengaging plate they form an obstruction to the filing away in piles of the filled binders. With my present invention when the binder is filled and ready to file away with others the finger-holds can be detached from the resilient post-engaging plate and will thus not form an objectionable feature in placing the binders in a pile.

My invention comprises, further, a loosesheet binder comprising two posts secured thereto, a follower on the posts, and a resilient member secured to the follower and engaging the posts and provided with two openings or slots in which are mounted andv removable therefrom two finger-holds, means being provided by which the finger-holds will not become detached during ordinary use.

My invention provides, further, certain novel features of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

It comprises also a novel construction of finger-hold and a novel construction for the resilient member.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the application of my invention to a loose-sheet binder, Figure 1 represents a vertical cross-sectional view. Fig. 2 represents a plan View of a portionof the upper sheetholding member and the hinged flap thereon.

Fig. 3 represents a plan View of the resilient post-engaging member. Fig. 4 represents a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the resilient member shown mounted on the upper sheet-holding member or follower, the

resilient member being shown bent so that the finger-hold maybe detached therefrom. Fig. 5 represents a cross-sectional vertical view of the resilient member and one fingerhold, taken on the dotted line 0 d of Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts.

A indicates two vertical parallel posts secured at their lower ends to the horizontal base B, of any suitable material. Mounted on the two posts A is a follower C, to the upper side of which is secured a transverse resilient member D, preferably in the form of a flat steel or brass plate secured by means of the screws E, extending through the holes Ginto the follower 0. Each end of themember D is provided with a notch F, of any desirable form. The notched ends are engaged, respectively, with the posts A, and the distance between the notches being a trifle greater than between the posts A the resilient strip D will normally be curved, as shown in Fig. 1. In this position the member D will hold the follower against retraction on the posts A.

The upper ends of the posts A are provided with notches H,,preferably made by making a peripheral groove in each post.

Upon the upper side of the member D, at each side of the securing-screws E, is mounted a finger-hold 1, comprising, preferably, a plate having an upwardly-curved portion, from the lower end of which extends outwardly a horizontal portion provided at each side with a lateral projection K, which extends below the under side of the plate D and is adapted to'enter lateral notches L, provided in the outer end of a slot J, of which one is provided at each side of the securing screws E in the plate D. The outer end of the horizontal portion of each finger-hold is provided on its under side with a notch M, adapted when the finger-hold isin position on the plate D to engage the plate at the outer end of the slot or opening J.

My invention is operated asfollows: The

thumb and forefinger of one hand of the operator are used to compress the finger-holds I toward each other, thus bending the resilient member D until the ends thereof are free from the posts A. The follower may then be retracted on the posts and sheets inserted between the sheetholding members B and C or removed therefrom. The said members B and C are preferably covered with cloth binding 0, which forms a hinge between the flap P and the follower C. When the binder has been filled, the ends of the spring-strip D enter the notches H, thus permitting the said strip to lie flat upon the follower C and preventing the follower from being forced off the posts A. It is desirable when the binder is filled that the projections above the follower be as short as possible, so that the binders may be piled away in a compact space. In order to accomplish this, the finger-holds are removed as follows: A pencil or similar article N is inserted under the spring-strip D, as shown in the drawings, Fig. 4, and the outer end of the strip is bent downwardly until the strip-D is released from the notch M in the outer end of the finger-hold. The finger-hold may then be moved outwardly in the slot J until the lateral projections K are opposite the recesses L, when the finger-hold may be lifted out of engagement with the strip D. The other finger-hold can then be removed in the same manner. The pencilN is then withdrawn, and the strip D will lie flat upon the follower, and no projections will appear above the follower except the screwheads E and the small rounded ends of the posts A. To reinsert the finger-holds, it will be obvious that the operation just described may be reversed.

It is evident that my invention is subjective of many modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A loose-sheet binder comprising a base, two posts secured thereto, a follower on the posts, a resilient member secured to the follower and engaging the posts, two fingerholds, and means for releasably securing the finger-holds to the resilient member, substantially as described.

2. A loose-sheet binder comprising a base, two posts secured thereto, a follower on the posts, a member secured to the follower and engaging the posts, two finger-holds for releasing the said member from such engagement, andmeans for releasably securing the fin ger-holds to the said member, substantially as described.

3. A loose-sheet binder comprising a base, two posts secured thereto, a follower on the posts, a resilient member secured to the follower and engaging the two posts, and two detachable finger-holds releasably secured to theresilient member for bending the said member and thus releasing it from engagefrom engagement with the posts, substan- V tially as described. I

5. A loose-sheet binder comprising a base, two posts secured thereto, a follower on the posts, a resilient member secured to the follower and normally engaging the two posts and provided with two openings, two fingerholds for releasing the said member from engagement with the posts and disposed respectively in the said two openings, and means for releasably securing the said finger-holdsin the said openings, substantially as described.

6. A loose-sheet binder comprising a base, two posts secured thereto, a follower on the posts, a resilient plate secured to the follower and normally engaging the two posts and provided with two openings, two finger-holds disposed in the said openings and releasably secured therein, substantially as described.

7. A loose-sheet binder comprising a base, two posts secured thereto, a follower on the posts, a resilient member secured to the follower and normally engaging the two posts and provided with two openings, two fingerholds disposed in the said openings respectively and provided with means for engaging the resilient member, and means by which the said finger-holds may be released from the said member when the member is bent in the proper direction, substantially as described.

8. A loose-sheet binder comprising a base, two posts secured thereto, a follower on the posts, a resilient plate secured to the follower and normally engaging the two posts and provided with two slots each having two lateral recesses, and two finger-holds disposed on top of the said plate in the said slots respectively and provided each with two projections insertible through the said recesses and engaging the under side of the resilient plate, substantially as described.

9. A loose-sheet binder comprising a base, two posts secured thereto, a follower on the posts, a resilient plate secured to the follower and engaging the posts and provided with two openings, and two finger-holds disposed respectively in the said two openings and bearing on both sides of the resilient plate and provided with means for preventing movement of the finger-holds in the plate unless the plate is bent in the proper direction, substantially as described.

10. A loose-sheet binder comprising a base, two posts secured thereto, a follower on the posts, a resilient plate secured to the follower and normally engaging the two posts and provided each with an opening having two lateral recesses, and two finger-holds on the top of said resilient plate and provided with lat- IIO eral projections insertible through the said recesses and engaging the under side of the plate and having also means for preventing movement of the finger-holds in the openings unless the plate is bent in the proper direction, substantially as described.

11. A blank for a loose-sheet binder comprising a resilient plate having notched ends, a centrally-disposed securing-hole, and two slots-disposed one between each notched end and the securing-hole and each slot being provided with lateral recesses, substantially as described.

12. A finger-hold for a loose-sheet binder comprising a plate having an upwardlycurved portion terminating at its lower end with a horizontal portion, thehorizontal portion being provided with an end notch and two'lateral projections extending below the under side of the plate, substantially as described.

13. In loose-sheet binders, a resilient plate having notched ends and provided with two slots each having lateral recesses, of two finger-holds each comprising a plate having an upwardly-curved portion terminating at its lower end with a horizontal portion which rests on the resilient plate, the horizontal por lateral projections insertible through the said recesses and extending below the resilient plate, each finger-hold having an end recess for engaging the resilient plate and preventing movement of the finger-hold thereon, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J UNIUS B. IRVING.

Witnesses:v

WARREN D. HOUSE, WILLIAM PITT. 

